Health Conditions

Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells in a part of the body begin to grown out of control. African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce sufficient insulin (Type 1), or because the body fails to use insulin properly (Type 2). Type 2 diabetes is the most common. African American adults are twice as likely as whites to be diagnosed with diabetes or die from diabetes.

Obesity

Obesity is a health condition in which excess body fat has accumulated and may have an adverse effect on health, leading to increased risk of illness, morbidity or mortality. For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using height to weight ratios to calculate body mass index (BMI). An adult who has a BMI 30 or higher is considered obese. Do you know your BMI?

Stroke

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke is caused by a clot blocking the flow of blood to the brain or a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain. Stroke is the No.3 cause of death, and the leading cause of disability in the United States. Stroke death rates are higher for African Americans than whites.